Monitoring Italian establishments exporting food of animal origin to third countries: SSOP compliance and Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. contamination
Trade of food of animal origin between countries is carried out according to specific bilateral agreements based on the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Agreement. As specific control plans are currently in place for establishments that produce meat products to be exported to the US in orde...
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| Published in: | Food control Vol. 121; p. 107584 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier Ltd
01-03-2021
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | Trade of food of animal origin between countries is carried out according to specific bilateral agreements based on the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Agreement. As specific control plans are currently in place for establishments that produce meat products to be exported to the US in order to ensure the equivalence between control systems, the Italian Ministry of Health implemented a monitoring plan in food processing establishments that export meat (n = 29), fishery (n = 5) and dairy products (n = 16) to other Third Countries.
Audits of good hygiene practices for the verification of Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs), were carried out. For each plant, 15 environmental samples for detection of Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) and 5 samples of ready-to-eat products for detection of L. monocytogenes and Salmonella were taken, in a total of 750 surface samples and 250 food samples.
The presence of L. monocytogenes was reported in 58 environmental samples (7.7%, 95% CI 6.0–9.9), detected in 50% of food companies. L. monocytogenes was also detected in 7 food product samples (2.8%, 95% CI 1.4–5.7). Salmonella spp. was never detected. Genetic characterization of L. monocytogenes strains with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was made, in one case, to correlate the origin of product contaminations to the processing environment. Genetic homogeneity among strains isolated from the same establishment was always highlighted. Audits showed that the most part of features relating to the presence and application of SSOPs were satisfied in the large majority of food companies in a proportion ranging from 88% to 100%, except the rotation of disinfectants (44% not compliant) and the presence of a list of surfaces to be regularly checked (18% not compliant).
This study allowed to collect information on the microbiological safety of food companies that export from Italy to the Third Countries. Microbiological contaminations were similar to food companies that export to the US, even if L. monocytogenes detection was slightly more common. Improving cleaning and disinfection procedures and the correct application of the SSOPs will be useful to comply with the zero tolerance for L. monocytogenes requested by some Third Countries.
•Export of food of animal origin is carried out according to bilateral agreements.•Lab testing and SSOPs audits were carried out in export-authorized processing plants.•The presence and application of SSOPs were satisfactory in most food companies.•Microbiological contaminations were similar to food companies that export to US. |
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| ISSN: | 0956-7135 1873-7129 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107584 |